Contrast ultrasound and pressure imaging for fibroids before and after uterine artery embolization
Evaluation of Uterine Fibroids by Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) and Subharmonic-Aided Pressure Estimation (SHAPE) Pre and Post Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE)
This research will use special ultrasound scans with tiny contrast bubbles to look at blood flow and pressure inside uterine fibroids before and after uterine artery embolization in women with fibroids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158926 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get contrast-enhanced ultrasound scans using safe microbubble contrast before and after your uterine artery embolization procedure. The scans include a technique called subharmonic-aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) to estimate pressure inside the fibroid and detailed imaging to show blood flow. Researchers will compare these ultrasound findings with the usual imaging (like MRI when available) and clinical outcomes to understand how well ultrasound reflects treatment effects. The goal is to offer a quicker, lower-cost option to monitor how well embolization has worked without needing an MRI for every patient.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who are planning to undergo or have recently undergone uterine artery embolization would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not having UAE, are pregnant, or who cannot receive ultrasound contrast agents may not benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a faster, lower-cost way to monitor fibroid blood flow and treatment response after UAE and reduce the need for MRI.
How similar studies have performed: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound has been used to image fibroid blood flow before and after treatments and SHAPE is a newer pressure-estimation method with early promising results but not yet widely adopted.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Thomas Jefferson University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Machado, Priscilla — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Machado, Priscilla
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.